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Regeneration

In 1979 the Arkwright Society, a small local charity, bought the Cromford Mills as an act of rescue. Now, with more than £5 million raised and spent many of the buildings have been brought back into economic use. Over 10,000 tonnes of rubble, much of it contaminated, has been removed and from beneath the Colour Works buildings much of the original Arkwright site has emerged. This included the original form of the mill water courses, the yard and the walls and wheelpit of the second mill of 1776. Though much has been achieved the three largest buildings are yet to be restored.

Cromford Mill is now home to many small businesses and educational service providers employing over 100 people. The mill project has come to be seen nationally as a model of the economic regeneration that can be achieved in a heritage context and has been badged by Regeneration through Heritage as an exemplar project.

The Society is happy to acknowledge the assistance it has received from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, emda, numerous corporate sponsors and its two local partners; Derbyshire County Council and the Derbyshire Dales District Council.